Wiremu Parker was New Zealand's first Māori news broadcaster, from 1943. Broadcasting in the Māori language, he became a household name in Māori communities throughout the country. Parker, of Ngāti Porou, was knowledgable in both the Māori and Pākehā worlds and fluent in Māori and English. He was originally employed to report on the activities of the 28th Māori Battalion, but remained involved in Māori broadcasting until his death in 1986. In addition to his broadcasting work Parker was a lecturer in adult education, and a teacher and translator of the Māori language. In this sound clip taken from a 2006 memorial tribute to Parker, he discusses songs and haka of protest.
Using this item
Reference: 53031
Image: Patrick Day, The radio years. Auckland: Auckland University Press, 1994, p.317
This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.